The Climate Space Concept: Analysis of the Steady State Heat Energy Budget of Animals. Physical Processes in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems, Transport Processes.

Stevenson, R. D.

These materials were designed to be used by life science students for instruction in the application of physical theory to ecosystem operation. Most modules contain computer programs which are built around a particular application of a physical process. Several modules in the thermodynamic series considered the application of the First Law to biological systems and the heat transfer processes which govern the energy balance of organisms. This module discusses a model for which the animal's temperature is not changing with time. The concept "climate space" is used as a means for quantifying the limits of an animal's thermal environment. These limits are discussed in detail and methods for calculating these limits are described. A problem set is used to check the assumptions of the climate space model as well as to extend it. A background in heat transfer processes is recommended. (Author/CS)